Nasa Wavelength

Audience

Topic

Resource Type

Instructional Strategies

SMD Forum

NASA eClips™️ Real World: Scaling the Solar System

Focusing on the size of our solar system, these two short videos address both its vastness and the measurement of its distances. Part One defines the limits of the solar system; Part Two introduces the Astronomical Unit (AU) and applies it to distances within the solar system.

Me and My Shadow

In this activity, students become familiar with the orientation of shadows, their size in relation to the object casting them, and how the alignment of the Sun, the object, and the shadow tells us much about how shadows work.

Learners will investigate the relationship between mass, speed, velocity, and kinetic energy in order to select the best material to be used on a space suit. They will apply an engineering design test procedure to determine impact strength of various materials.

Mars From Above

This is a set of three activities about how scientists study other worlds. Learners will explore and compare the features of Mars and Earth, discuss what the features suggest about the history of Mars, and create a model to help them understand how scientists view other worlds.

Weather & Climate iQuest

Students build their understanding of weather and climate concepts by exploring several websites and online videos and completing a related worksheet. Students will examine NASA's role in both gathering weather and climate data and monitoring the changes to each that are occurring globally.

Measuring the Speed of an Ejected Ball of Plasma

This is a lesson about magnetism and solar flares. Learners will evaluate real solar data and images in order to calculate the energy and magnetic strength of a solar flare moving away from the Sun as a coronal mass ejection.

Paper Model of the Kepler Spacecraft

Learners will make a paper model of Kepler space telescope. Ideas for use include hanging all models in a display case that also houses student work. Note: the activity includes updated information in 2009 about the change from an articulated (movable) antenna to a fixed antenna on Kepler.